…a boomer muses about life, change, joys, sorrows and freedom from the prison of corporate life.

Brain Push-ups?

As we baby boomers age, I’m noticing more and more articles on how important it is for us to exercise our brains. In a way it’s a bit insulting, as if when we reach “a certain age,” we suddenly turn slack-jawed, roll our eyes up into our heads and murmur “Duh” and “Yup!” at regular intervals. It is recommended that we do activities to stimulate our brains, such as puzzles or learning about new things. I can’t imagine ever NOT stimulating my brain, but, whatever…

One thing I do enjoy is a good optical illusion. I like the way it makes you look at things from a different perspective. For example, you have the simple ones like this one. Is it a bunch of white columns or black silhouettes of pairs of people facing each other? I love that it’s so obviously both!

Then there’s this graffiti from a subway station, which I think is simply brilliant. The fact that it’s carried from the wall to the floor so effortlessly shows that the artist has a real eye for perspective. It’s mind-bending. (I’m thinking of trying this in my basement!)

But a good optical illusion doesn’t have to be elaborate. Take this picture. Look at it one way and it’s a person. Look at it another, and it’s the word “Liar.” Cool, huh?

As usual, I’ve saved my favorite for last. The first time I tried this one I was both amazed and delighted. Then I laughed out loud. On first glance, it’s a picture of Albert Einstein. No problem with that. Now, step back from computer about five feet and it becomes a photo of Marilyn Monroe! Really! It DOES! I swear! I can’t get over this one. It’s so fun.

Okay, well, if you’ve managed to stay with me this long, congratulations! I’d say our brains are probably simply glowing from all that exercise! So now you have my permission to give your brain a break and let yourself be dumb for a few hours. (Maybe go tweet or something!)